Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda Saturday said Election Commission wants to use Election Voting Machine (EVM) in a limited scale for showing honour to the interest and wish of country’s people.
It is necessary to amend 1972’s RPO act for EVM use, he said, adding that EC has already sent the proposal to the Law Justice and Parliament Affairs Ministry.
He said as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of EVM fair on Khulna Public Hall premises in Khulna.
As voters have shown their interest in EVM system and EC has proved its skill in EVM voting in last city corporation election, the election comission may use the voting system in the upcomming national election, he added.
Chaired by Khulna deputy commissioner Md Helal Hossain, Khulna divisional commissioner Lokman Hossain Mia, DIG of Khulna Range Police Md Didar Ahmad,
KMP Commissioner Humayun Kabir and Police Super SM Shafiullah addressed the event as special guests.
Khulna Regional Election Officer Younus Ali delivered the welcome speech while senior maintenance engineer of EC secretariat Md Ashraf Hossain screened about EVM voting system.
Later, the CEC visited 12 booths of the fair and observed voters of three KCC wards who have casted their mock votes.
Meanwhile, Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed Saturday said Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in the next general election on a small scale if the Representation of the People Order (RPO) is amended.
But before using the EVM in the polls, the commission wants to familiarise the voters with its use, he said while inaugurating an EVM fair at Chattogram Shilpakala Academy on Saturday noon.
“It will not be possible to reach EVMs to the remote areas in the next national election due to time constraints. So, EVMs will be used on a limited scale in the city areas,” he said.
He said EVMs have been used in the country since Chattogram City Corporation elections in 2010.
“EVM can be set up for an election at a minimal cost and time while millions of votes can be counted in a matter of minutes after closing. There is no hassle of police security to send electronic voting documents to the voting centers,” he said.
Additional divisional commissioner Shankar Ranzan Saha, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Chattogram range Khondhker Golam Faruk, Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman and Superintendent of Chattogram district police Nur-e-Alam Mina were present.